ACFC/31DOC(2008)001 service television and radio programmes devoted to election campaigns and on ballot slips and other electoral material in areas inhabited by persons belonging to national minorities traditionally or in substantive numbers.25 78. Political parties, both mainstream and those formed by persons belonging to national minorities, can play an important role in facilitating participation of persons belonging to national minorities in public affairs. Internal democratic processes of selection of their candidates by mainstream parties are crucial in ensuring participation of persons belonging to national minorities. Inclusion of minority representatives in mainstream political parties does, however, not necessarily mean the effective representation of the interests of minorities. 79. In countries where prominent minority parties exist, it is important to ensure that other minority parties or political organisations wishing to represent the interests of other persons belonging to the same national minorities have opportunities to do so. ii. Design of electoral systems at national, regional and local levels 80. The participation of persons belonging to national minorities in electoral processes is crucial to enable minorities to express their views when legislative measures and public policies of relevance to them are designed. 81. Bearing in mind that State Parties are sovereign to decide on their electoral systems, the Advisory Committee has highlighted that it is important to provide opportunities for minority concerns to be included on the public agenda. This may be achieved either through the presence of minority representatives in elected bodies and/or through the inclusion of their concerns in the agenda of elected bodies. 82. The Advisory Committee has noted that when electoral laws provide for a threshold requirement, its potentially negative impact on the participation of national minorities in the electoral process needs to be duly taken into account.26 Exemptions from threshold requirements have proved useful to enhance national minority participation in elected bodies. 83. Constitutional guarantees for the representation of persons belonging to national minorities in elected bodies need to be coupled with effective implementing legislation and accompanying measures within reasonable time.27 The Advisory Committee considers it essential that persons belonging to national minorities participate or are consulted in the process of drafting such legislation and monitoring its implementation. 84. State Parties are encouraged to strengthen the participation of persons belonging to national minorities, including those in a disadvantaged position, in local elected 25 See for example 1st Opinion on Estonia adopted on 14 September 2001, paragraphs 55 and 56. See for example 2nd Opinion on the Russian Federation adopted on 11 May 2005, paragraph 262 and 1st Opinion on Serbia and Montenegro, adopted on 27 November 2003, paragraph 102. 27 See for example 1st Opinion on Hungary adopted on 9 December 2004, paragraph 48. 26 24